The falls

chapter 34

The tension in the room was thick as Lilien, Neomi, and Jessica gathered around the computer. The screen displayed a complex array of data, tracking energy signatures from potential interdimensional rips. They were determined to find and seal any breaches before Bill Cipher could exploit them. However, despite the gravity of the situation, there was an awkward undercurrent in the air, and Neomi was picking up on it.

"Okay, hold up," Neomi said, pausing the scrolling data on the screen. "What's going on with you two? You're acting weird."

Jessica's heart skipped a beat, and she exchanged a quick glance with Lilien. The awkwardness she had been trying to keep under wraps had clearly not gone unnoticed. Lilien shifted uncomfortably before sighing and deciding to come clean.

"Well... um," Lilien began, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. "I... may have asked Jessica to kiss me."

Neomi raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. "Wait, what?"

"I didn't really think it through," Lilien continued, her voice hesitant. "I mean, I didn't think about how it might affect you. I was just... trying to figure myself out, I guess."

There was a brief moment of silence, and Jessica braced herself for some kind of reaction—anger, jealousy, maybe even hurt. But what came next completely surprised both her and Lilien.

Neomi burst out laughing.

The laughter was so unexpected that it caught them both off guard. Neomi's face lit up with genuine amusement, and she shook her head, still chuckling. "You guys seriously kept that from me? Bro, if you were trying to figure yourself out, you should've just explained that to me. I wouldn't have minded in the slightest that you kissed her."

Lilien blinked, stunned. "Wait... you're not mad?"

"Mad? Nah," Neomi said, still grinning. "Lilien, it's not like you were trying to steal her or anything. You're figuring out who you are, and that's cool. I get it."

Jessica let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding, feeling the tension ease. But now that the air was clearing, she couldn't help but bring up a question that had been gnawing at her for a while.

"So... um, Neomi," Jessica began cautiously, her heart racing. "Where exactly do we stand? I mean, with us, in terms of... a relationship?"

Neomi paused, her expression thoughtful as she glanced between Jessica and Lilien. After a moment, she smiled, her usual confidence returning.

"Well, since we're all being honest here," Neomi said, folding her arms and leaning against the table. "I was actually thinking... why don't we all just be in a three-way relationship?"

Both Jessica and Lilien froze, their eyes widening in shock. Neomi's words hung in the air like a bombshell, and it took a few seconds for either of them to process what she had just suggested.

"A... a three-way relationship?" Jessica stammered, completely taken aback.

"Yeah," Neomi said, shrugging casually. "Why not? I mean, I like you, Jessica, obviously. And if Lilien's into girls and is figuring stuff out, why not give it a shot? No reason we can't all be happy, right?"

Lilien blinked, her face turning bright red as she tried to wrap her head around the idea. "Wait, are you serious?"

Neomi nodded, completely unfazed by their reactions. "Dead serious. I don't see why it has to be complicated. We all like each other, right? So why not?"

Jessica glanced at Lilien, whose face was still flushed, and then back at Neomi, who seemed completely relaxed about the whole thing. The suggestion was... unexpected, to say the least. But as strange as it sounded, Neomi had a point. They all liked each other, and maybe—just maybe—it didn't have to be as complicated as they were making it.

"Well..." Jessica began, her voice uncertain but curious. "I guess it's not completely out of the question..."

Lilien was still blushing furiously, but after a moment, she seemed to relax, her expression softening. "I mean... I've never even thought about something like this before, but... I guess it could work?"

Neomi grinned, clearly pleased with how this was turning out. "Exactly. We're already a good team, and we trust each other. Why not take it a step further?"

Jessica found herself smiling at Neomi's enthusiasm. Despite how unconventional the idea was, maybe it really didn't have to be a big deal. They cared about each other, and that was what mattered most.

"All right," Jessica said, her voice more confident now. "I guess we can give it a try."

Lilien nodded slowly, still looking a bit overwhelmed but ultimately intrigued by the idea. "Yeah... let's try."

Neomi grinned from ear to ear, clearly satisfied with the outcome. "Awesome! Now, let's get back to finding and sealing those interdimensional rips before Bill figures out what we're up to."

With the strange new development in their relationship hanging in the air, the three of them turned their attention back to the computer, ready to continue their mission. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together—now with an even stronger bond than before.